Wash. State PTSA Legislative Issues

My children attend a Montessori school, but I would be interested to know the results - if it gets heard and what sort of reaction it will get.

Just re-raising.
If you live in Washington State, and you have children that go to public school, PLEASE urge your PTA legislative representative to support item #6 during legislative assembly on Oct 18-19th.
We could make a BIG difference here!! We are hoping to have a bill written, and evenutally pass a law requiring PA/food/latex allergy education for all educators. Washington State PTA did this last year for anti-bullying legislation. The bill was passed into law last spring. This system works!!

Mitch'smom,
Thanks for all your work! I have talked to the PTA reps at both my ds school, and the school where I work. Let's keep our fingers crossed that it works. Kristi

skanb,
Thank you for supporting this effort. If everybody speaks up, we may have a fighting chance.
Also, I have been trying to get ahold of Rick Walters (lives in WA state), but he has not responded to e-mail. If anyone knows how I can get ahold of him, please let me know.
I will be speaking at Legislative Assembly in Ellensburg on the 18th and 19th. Wish me luck!!
Beth

I just wanted to let everyone know the outcome of the effort put fort this weekend to try and get our issue sent to Olympia.
There were 13 issues that were presented and debated at this year's Washington State PTA legislative assembly. Of the 13 issues presented, ten were selected to be this year's priority for our lobbyist, Carol Taylor Cann. There were 183 voting delegates from across the state of Washington that attended this year's assembly, and each delegate voted for their top 5 issues. Our issue recieved 27 votes, and we came in 11th place. We were only 7 votes shy of being in the top 10.
We had some VERY tough competition, and the issues presented ranged from I-728 funding/Basic Education Programs, to allowing Simple Majority voting for school funding measures. I beleive that our presentation/debate was by far the most powerful, and very well presented (we drew "gasps" from the voting delegates). A group of about 8 delegates (including myself) stayed up until midnight (some until 1 a.m.) on Friday evening preparing our debate.
Even though we lost this weekend, I was assured by Lisa Bond, President of the WSPTA, and Paula Matthysse, Vice President of the WSPTA, that this issue is NOT dead. Paula gave me her home phone number, and told me that there are other ways that we can get our issue to Olympia, and that we can present again next year at Legislative Assembly. Carol Taylor Cann (Washington State PTA Government Relations Coordinator) also assured me that we can get our issue bundled in with one of the Legislative Guiding Principles called "Healthy Child". Legislative Guiding Principles are consistent with the mission and objects of the National PTA. The Healthy Child issue states that :
Washington State shall adopt policies/legislation that guarantee each child residing within its borders has access to quality, comprehensive health care. Every step must be taken to guarantee food, shelter, and safety from environmental hazards for all children.
This guiding principle was approved at Legislative Assembly yesterday, and Carol feels that she can incorporate our issue into this statement.
Even though we lost yesterday, we raised awareness of life-threatening food allergies to key people in our school systems. We had quite a few delegates who said that they were swayed by our debate, and voted for our issue when their intention was to vote for something else. We also had a number of delegates approach us during breaks asking for more information about our issue, so that they could provide better training and awareness at their schools.
Also, we are still hoping that Senator Finkbeiner will write a bill proposing our legislation. We may still have a chance of being heard in Olympia w/out the PTA. One of our delegates will be following up with him.
We did a GREAT job, and put information into the hands of people in our school systems who were not previously aware of Nathan's story and the seriousness of food allergies.

Mich's mom,
Thank YOU for all your work. I appreciate all that you have done. I am certain that you presented an impressive debate, especially since it drew gasps from the audience! Kudos for you and your team. I am glad we had someone like you willing to help out this issue in such a visible way. It is also good news that we may be able to get this issue heard through the Healthy Child initiative. In many ways that makes the most sense, since it is directly related to our children being healthy. I think it also takes some of the pressure off of us "psycho parents" if it comes attached to a statewide mission. Does that make sense? Thanks again for all your work. Enjoy some time with your family now. Kristi

I'm so sorry I didn't see this sooner! I don't visit often. Although our school did not send a rep to leg assembly, I know people in our district who went. I am a PTA president and am very interested in being involved in this issue with the school. My e-mail is [email]charkat@nwinet.com[/email]